Body spotted by provincial kayaking team members

Related Stories

Winnipeg Police confirm they have discovered a body in the Red River, but say it's too early to know if it's Lisa Gibson, the mother of two small children who died after being found injured in their home Wednesday.

The body was pulled out of the river by the Alexander Docks, downstream from where police dive teams had been searching for Gibson, 32.

Police began looking for Gibson after her infant son and two-year-old daughter were found critically injured in a bathtub in the family's home Wednesday morning. The children were rushed to hospital where they later died.

On Thursday, police said they thought Gibson was still alive. But they turned their attention to the Assiniboine River near the family's home Friday after exhaustive searches of parks and the riverbank in the Westwood neighbourhood.

Body found by members of provincial kayaking team

Police were alerted to the body in the Red River Saturday morning after it was spotted floating there by four members of the provincial kayaking team who were paddling in canoe races.

Police began searching for Lisa Gibson after her two children were found critically injured in their home Wednesday morning. They later died in hospital. (Winnipeg Police Service)

Team members told CBC News it appeared to be a woman's body.

The Alexander Docks are just downstream from where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet up.

Within minutes, dozens of police officers had taped off a wide area along Waterfront Drive. They held a tarp up to shield the scene from prying eyes as the coroner examined the body and wheeled it away.

Police spokesman Const. Eric Hofley said police were unable to confirm the gender of the body immediately and likely would not be confirming the person's identity on Saturday.